Why is everything WiFi enabled (kitchen applicances)?

[blacklilypad]

Can anyone explain to me why washing machines, dishwashers, etc are now WiFi enabled and able to be controlled by Alexa and Google?

I'm moving and need to buy all my kitchen white goods (we left ours at old house but sellers are taking theirs) and everything can be controlled via your smartphone. And I just don't see the point. I need to load the washing machine manually first, why would I then want to start it from my smarthphone instead of just pushing the button in front of me?

Does anyone have one that can enlighten me on the point of these features as I don't get it? I feel like I'm missing out on some brilliant life hack or something

You run the tumble dryer while sleeping?

I agree. Unless you’ve got a dishwasher and washing machine that can load themselves, what’s the point of being able to turn them on remotely?

My new washer is WiFi enabled, I decided to have a play and actually it makes it much easier to program or find programs for specific items

Oven I can see the point if you had a long day out planned like legoland and wanted slow cook stew hot for when you get home. Or tumble drier you could turn off while your out. But let's be honest, even that wouldnt be regular.

I'm not sure the household insurance would like it either if there was a fire

My new coffee machine (which I otherwise LOVE) is WiFi enabled. In theory it could be quite nice to set it so I can leave a cup under it at night, then tell it from my bed to make me a coffee when I wake. BUT when it turns on, it runs a little self cleaning cycle and spurts out a few ml of hot murky water which needs disposing of before making anything drinkable, so I'm not sure if the point of the WiFi here either.

I agree OP. We need a new dishwasher and when I started looking I saw that many had wifi.

Likewise kettles. You have to go and put water in and a few minutes later go back to it to make the tea, so you'd have to be a real goldfish brain to need it to remind you of this every step of the way.

I do like the wifi and app that goes with the catflaps though. I can check from anywhere in the world if the cat who didn't come back for their breakfast has made an appearance. Or I can lock them in if I don't want them to go out again, so they don't go off and hide until the vets has shut when they have an appointment.

Do wifi enable fridges allow you to look inside them from the supermarket when you can't remember if you have any milk?

@BarbaraofSeville

Do wifi enable fridges allow you to look inside them from the supermarket when you can't remember if you have any milk?

Don’t think any do yet but Samsung ones well some will let you create shopping lists and log expiry dates on to smart screen.

why would I then want to start it from my smarthphone instead of just pushing the button in front of me?

Because if you've had to install an app to activate the machine, download new programmes, etc., the manufacturer can track your usage, sell these details to other companies (detergent manufacturers, etc.), make sure you see targeted adverts when they think you should be buying a new machine, and so on. It's definitely not for your benefit: you only exist to give them them data & money.

@MacavityTheDentistsCat

I think that is because it ties in with a toothbrush app on your phone which shows you diagrams of teeth and will highlight the areas of your mouth that you’ve missed/regularly don’t pay enough attention to or areas that you’re brushing too hard.

It makes toothbrushing into a game. I set it up on my toothbrush, I used it for about a week and then couldn’t be bothered anymore. My teeth did feel cleaner when I followed it’s advice though

I have it on my tumble dryer....but it doesn't work. Tried it a few times out of curiosity but didn't work. I wouldn't mind getting a notification when my washing was done though. I am awful and forget that it's In there...

I strongly suspect a non-user of said machines decided it would be a good idea!

Because it's great when the washing machine buzzes your watch to tell you that it has finished

Unless it unloads itself and puts itself on the washing line or in the cupboards I can't see any point in it.

We’ve just been in the same position as you and like you, I really didn’t understand why all of these items required internet access!!
My partner however was lapping it up! As a result, Our oven, fridge freezer & washer dryer are all internet enabled!!
I genuinely have no idea what I am meant to do with this or why I would want it. They do all look lovely and have all the features I do want & need though. Interestingly, considering it was my partner who wanted the all singing all dancing items, he has used none of the internet enabled features or increased the amount of times he uses them.

It's super cheap to add, and provides data to the company about users, the surveillance data combining with other data linked via your ip address is valuable to advertisers...

@LemonJelly76

I'm on economy 7, so it's useful to set the tumbler going at night x although didn't necessarily need the tumbler to be WiFi as could've just used a smart plug with any appliance

A smart plug won't start a tumble dryer, it would just power it, the start button would still need pushing

But washing machines, dishwashers and ovens have had delay start features since long before ubiquitous wifi was ever a thing.

Our old, basic, limping towards an early grave dishwasher can be set up dishes and detergent in, set to start at any time in the next 24 hours, all by it'self, no wifi required.

And any appliance that we've bought in the last five years bings and bongs every time it finishes doing its thing, perfectly audible to anyone with working ears if you're in a the same normal sized house.

I have WiFi heat pump tumble dryer. It cost £££'S and it's the worst appliance I have ever had. Everything comes out damp and crumpled and it takes fxxx hours.

My tumble drier is, though I've never bothered to set it up I might do so because the stupid touch 'button' not actually a bloody button is beginning to refuse to recognise my finger touching it so that WiFi may yet have a use. If it just had mechanical buttons it would all be fine 🙄🙄🙄

Our heat pump is Wi-Fi enabled. It's great because it means I can just ask Alexa to switch it on and off, no need to hunt for the remote or get up off the sofa.

I can also use the app on my phone to check the temperature of the house, so while I'm on my way home I can switch the air con or heating on so the house is a nice temperature when I get in.

Oven I can see the point if you had a long day out planned like legoland and wanted slow cook stew hot for when you get home.

We can achieve this with a slow cooker and a £5 timer switch from B&Q.

Pointless for a washing machine or a dryer as should not be run without someone there and awake.
I use tech but don’t particularly want a dishwasher pinging me and collecting data. Is there a way to turn off the capability or do you need to buy a “dumb” machine?

www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/news/2018/11/tumble-dryer-dos-and-don-ts/

I would love a WiFi oven and hob! Then I could check they were off instead of worrying that I left them on all day. Side note, I have never left them on. I am just mega paranoid about it.

Probably because they are designed by techies who don't have families, do housework etc. It's the same thing as washing machines with hundreds of programs when reality most real people only use 1